Machine for assembling caps and liners



Sept. 4, 1951 J. BELADA MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CAPS AND LINERS 12Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1946 NQW Sept. 4, 1951 J. BELADA 2,567,094

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CAPS AND LINERS Filed Feb. 16, 1946 12Sheets-Sheet 2 J..BELADA MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CAPS AND LINERS Sept. 4,1951 1 2 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed Feb. 16, 1946 J. BELADA MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CAPS ANDjLINERSSept. 4, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 16, 1946 zoT 3mm" JoHNBEmzm p4, 1951 J. BELADA 2,567,094

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CAPS AND LINERS Filed Feb. 16, 1946 12Sheets-Sheet 5 J .188 1 1 8 b :l

z/omv Baum/9 WWW Sept. 4, 1951 J. BELADA MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CAPS ANDLINERS 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Feb. 16, 1946 Sept. 4, 1951 J. BELADAMACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CAPS AND LINERS 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Feb. 16,1946 1 ii 7 I Sept. 4, 1951 J. BELADA MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CAPS ANDLINERS l2 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Feb. 16, 1946 u 9 mum 6 a J m u 4 4 4 K r4 4 ml WNW M W 5 2 M J! A? M, J M m 'Wl h J mill] 1 z I L. A l1 Q. 2 V gm? X Sept. 4, 1951 .1. BELADA 2,567,094

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CAPS AND LINERS Filed Feb. 16, 1946 12Sheets-Sheet 10 Qvvuzniom m zi z/ozmBsmm Sept. 4, 1951 J. BELADA2,567,094

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CAPS AND LINERS Filed Feb. 16, 1946 12Sheets-Sheet ll RING GEAR RING GEAR P 1951 J. BELADA 2,567,094

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CAPS AND LINERS Filed Feb. 16, 1946 12Sheets-Sheet l2 l 3 .102 82 ill .2 9 N 3mm r/bHNBELfiDd 2s 2 M @e/Patented Sept. 4, 1951 MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CAPS AND LINERS I JohnBelada, Glassboro, N. J assignor to Owens- Illinois'Glass Company, acorporation of Ohio Application February 16, 1946, Serial No. 648,053

3 Claims. I

My invention relates to apparatus for assemv bling caps or closuredevices such as used for.

bottles, jar and the like, with ring gaskets or liners. The inventionprovides automatic apparatus for assembling flanged caps and ringgaskets or liners made of rubber or the like, the liner being insertedwithin the flanged cap and secured therein by upsetting the edge of theflange and causing it to grip the liner.

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus by which the caps andring gaskets supplied from separate sources can be fed to an assemblingapparatus by which the gaskets are inserted within the caps, thentransferred to spinning mechanism by which the gaskets are secured inthe caps, the operations being entirely automatic and performed withgreat rapidity.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate assemblingapparatus embodying my invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a train of transfer disks;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation at the line 3-3 on Fig. 1, on a somewhatlarger scale;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the conveying mechanism by which the capsare advanced to the assembling apparatus;

Fig. 4A is a sectional elevation at the line 4A--4A on Fig. 4, showingparticularly a cap arresting device under the control of the gaskets andtheir feeding mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a part-sectional plan view of a portion of the conveyingmechanism by which the ring gaskets or liners are advanced to theassembling mechanism and also showing an automatic electrical controldevice actuated by the gaskets for controlling the feed of the caps;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the operation of theelectrical control device when a gasket is missing;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary part-sectional plan view on a comparativelylarge scale of a portion of the liner conveying apparatus and electricalcontrol mechanism operated by two or more liners carried on the samepeg;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross-section at the line Iii-l0 on Fig. 9; i

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation of the assembling group shown at theleft in Fig. 3, but on a larger scale, the section being at the line Illl on Fig. 24;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view on a larger scale than that ofFig. 11 showing one of the assembling units;

Fig. 13 is a section at the line l3--l3 on Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a part-sectional elevation of an assembling unit, the sectionbeing at the line I4-l4 on Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation of the spinning mechanism by which themarginal edges of the metal caps are spun over the ring gaskets andclenched thereto; v

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the spinning units andthe cap supporting means therebeneath;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 16, but on a larger scale and with theparts in a position assumed during the spinning operation;

Fig. 18 is a section at the line l8l8 on Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary part-sectional plan view of means fordischarging the cap assemblies from the spinning mechanism and includingelectrical control devices;

Fig. 20 is a section at the line 202il on Fig. 19;

' Fig. 21 is a part-sectional elevation of mechanism shown in Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is a wiring diagram of the electrical control devices;

Fig. 23 is a diagrammatic view of trains of gearing through which motionis transmitted to various rotating parts of the machine;

Fig. 24 is a part-sectional plan view showing particularly the means forreceiving the caps and ring gaskets from the straight line conveyors andtransferring them to the assembling mechanism; and

Fig. 25 is a section at the line 25-25 on Fig. 24.

Referring to Fig. 1, the apparatus comprises, in general terms, a capconveyor 25 by which the caps C are conveyed to a rotary transfer disk26; a ring conveyor 21 by which ring gaskets or liners Bare conveyed toand deposited on a stationary annular platform 28 overlying the disk 26;radially disposed transfer arms 29 which rotate over the face of theplatform 28 and each provided at its outer end with a lug 30 to engagethe rings B; an assembly device 3| rotatable about a. vertical axis andcarrying assembly units 32 to receive the caps and rings, the assemblyunits including means to insert the rings within the caps and securethem therein; a transfer disk 33 which receives the cap and ringassemblies and transfers them to a spinning device 34, the lattercomprising six spinning heads or units 35 arranged in an annular seriesand by which the free edges of the cap flanges are spun over the uppermargins of the rings and the latter thereby securely gripped and held inposition within the caps; and a discharge chute 36 through which thecompleted caps are discharged to a conveyor 31. V 7 I The transfer-disk26-, assembling unit 3 I, transfer disk 33 and spinning device 34 arerotatable each about its vertical axis and are rotated by an electricmotor 38 operable through-interpennected gearing as presently describedto rotate the several devices in the directions indicatedby the arrows.The individual spinningfunitsfifare also continuously rotated,each-ascents own vertical axis. erated thereby are mounted on a machinebase 0. The framework supporting the assembly mechanism 3| andthe-'-spinning mechanism 34 includes standards tt (Fig.3) to which-isbolted a platform 42, said mechanisms being mounted directly on theplatform. A driving belt43 (Figs. 1 and 3) runs 'on'the motor pulleyanda driving pulley 45 on a horizontal shaft "45 j'ournalled in hangersd6 bolted to the latform '42. 'Ashaft 4? in line with the shaft'45"is"connected thereto by a coupling :48. Hand wheelsfii are attachedto the shafts 45 and 41. a

The assembly device 3I includes astationary center column 59 (Figfi3and11) 'on which is mounted a rotary carriage carrying the assembly units32. The carriage'is'driven .from'the shaft 47 through a train ofgearing'including a pinion 52 keyed to the shaft andidriving-a bevelledgear 53 on a vertical shaft 54'carryinga'spurpiriion 55 which mesheswith anddrivesa ring'gear 59, secured to the carriage.

The spinning mechanism 3 3 includes a center column 5! bolted'tothe'table 42andhavingj'ournalled therein a vertical spindle 58 (Figs.semi Surroundingthe column 51 and mounted for rotation thereon is acarriage 59 to which the spinning units F35"areattachedforrotationtherewith about the center columnS'I. Thecarriage 59 is drivenfrom'thesha'ft'45 throughatrainpf gearing including Jinterm'es'hingbevelled gears 66 and 6! keyed respectively to the shaft -45'andavertical shaft 62. A'spur gear'63 on theshaft'm drives a ring gear 64attached to ithecarriage 56 and thereby rotates the :latter. Thes'pindle58 is driven from the shaft 45 by means of inter.- meshingspur;gears:65. and 66 keyed to'said shaft and spindle respectively.Keyed to thespindle '56 near the upper end thereof, is'a gear wheelrfifiwhich runs in mesh vyithspur gears'68 individual to the spinning units35;. .,Each said unit includes a vertical tubular shaft 69 carrying aspinning head 70. n It will be noted that the gearingefor rotating thecarriage 5 9 -of th e spinning mechanism and for rotating the spindles69 is so arranged and proportioned that the spindles are rotated abouttheir own'axes at a high speed as compared with their revolution aboutthe axis of the spindle 58, The gonstruction and operation of thespinning mechanism will be more fully described later, I g p v Thetransfer disk '33 .(Figs.' 1 and 3) iscarried on a vertical shaft 12journalled in a casting l3 bolted to the platform 42. The disk '33 .isrotated by the ring gear 64 (Figs. 3 and23) 'operating through a trainof gearing including gears 14, I5, I6 and 11, the gear I1 being keyedtothe shaft 72. Thetransfer disk 26 isalso drivenfr'om the ring'gear 64through a train of gearing rin- 'pr'ises an endless belt 85 extendingbetween a belt The motor 38'and'mecha'nism opelU eonveyor SIj a n d thetransfer disk 26. The belt 385' may be driven by an electric motorsynaed yvith the motor 38 and operating train' of gearing including asprocket "chain 8'1"(Figfi4). The framework of the conjveyorincludesside -rails or frame members 98 posit ned and spaced to maintain thecaps in A stationary guide plate 39 is positioned over the belt andextends lengthwise thereof, being spaced above the belt to accommoda'jtethe: caps. The plate 89 is attachedto strapsmiconnected "to the frame by'hing'es 9| and -secured 'inJ-position by bolts "and wing nuts 92.Thecaps C, which are placed :in inverted position -ontheiconveyor86,"'ar'e converg'ed to a single'rrow' as 'theyigmo've onto the:conveyor 25, there being normally an unbroken row of'the caps.

"Anraut'omatic control device *for stopping the machinewvheneverthereisa breakin'the row of caps-"includes arocki'arm 93*extending alongthe conveyor and mounted tos'wing about a pivot 91!. ,-=-A -second*rockarm '95 connected to swing with therarm-93 is arrangedyto operatean'electricalswitch 96. The advancing caps C'normally hold the -arm 93inthe position-shown. If there is a-break in the linepfcaps the arm is'permitted to swing inwardly and thereby actuate the switch 96 for.stepping the motor-ashereinaf ter set forth. Thegconveyor z'lgfor-thering'gaskets- B comprises an endless chain trained over pulleys '9'! and98 (Figs. 1; and 25) andmayreceive its power through a belt 99 motordrivenby1=0r in synch -ron ism;witl 1; themotor 38. Referring to Figs. 5to 1 ),;tl 1e framework of the ring conveyor mechanism ineludes a pairof angle bars I09, extsn lin le gth iss ,oflihe i" and spaced a $2 .22@listan s shalt.- o vi e n i u l slot IOI to accommodatea series of pegs'l 62 which ar ita hs tube cbnvsyo i at l ieis va sqa d te q d wnw 1xthrough said slammin il s ntr veu ard t a e b machine. Each said peg -isrigidly attached to %.3Q1TQ ba 0-.. ureq;t t e chain by angle strarward; travel on stationary angle bars A ii itf rfi i tlivi e e westrand o'f'the conveygr chainpreventsthe chain an as 19 iz mfi in lifsdab re t e r Op a i2' '16 n- .Tfitre'il 1 5 ssu sn edh boltsIIlTattached toyokes I98 positionedat intervals along the conveyor andbolted to the angle bars I00. ;he pegs I 02 carry therifiggasketsiorward t'oth'e jar-uremia. the fringe being sub'puea totlie'p'gsffroin 'alchute II'flfor the-like (Fig. 1), at end of theconvey'o n As the ring gaskets reach the transfer mechanism they arereleasedfrom thep'egs; I92fand thus transferred to the platform 28.Referring to Figs. 24 and 25, it :willbeseen thati-the angle-bars I06abut the platform 28, the ring supporting surfaces of saidbars-:andpla'tform being in the same-plane and 1 1 1. cro slbfers [03e sSupported thereby permitting the rings to slide onto the platform. Ahood III! is mounted on the platform 28 in line with the bars I00, andserves to hold the rings temporarily in position to be picked up by therotating arms 29. The hood and platform are slotted at III) in line withthe slot IOI to permit the passage of the pegs I02, the hood also beingformed with a slot IIO for the passage of the lugs 30.

The ring, when placed on the transfer platform 28, is positioned overthe path of the caps C held in the rotating transfer disk 26. The ringis carried forward along with an underlying disk by means of one of thearms 29. Each of the arms 29 is mounted to swing on a pivot pin IIIpermitting the ring engaging peg 30 to be lifted and lowered, under thecontrol of a cam II2. Immediately after a ring has been positionedbeneath the hood I I, an arm 29 traverses the hood. A high section II2of the cam lifts the arm and its peg over the side of the hood and thenpermits the peg 30 to move down into thering, so that the ring is caughtby the peg 30 and carried forward along with the underlying cap to theassembly mechanism 3I.

As the arm 29, carrying with it a ring B, leaves the hood IIIl it passesbeneath an arc-shaped guiding rail II2 mounted over the platform 28 andthereby prevents the arm from accidentally jumping or swinging up andreleasing the ring. Beyond the rail H2, an arc-shaped shield II2 ismounted over the platform and spaced thereabove to permit the passage ofthe rings beneath the shield. The arms 29 move along the upper surfaceof the shield while the pins 30 move along a slot II2 in the shield.When an arm 29 and the ring carried thereby are brought into positionfor releasing the ring to an assembly unit 32, the arm is permitted todrop a short distance by a clip section II2 of the cam H2 and then givena quick upward movement so that the peg 38 is disengaged from the ring.The inner guiding wall of the shield I I2 is formed with a hump II2 forguiding the ring and positioning it preparatory to transferring it tothe cap therebeneath.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, each assembly unit 32 comprises a verticalshaft II3 mounted for up-and-down movement in a bearing plate I I4, thelatter being mounted on the carriage 5I. The shaft II3 has mountedthereon for up-anddown movement near the lower end of the shaft, aspider I I5. An annular plate I I6 mounted concentrically with thecarriage BI and secured thereto by bolts I I1 (Figs. 11 and 12) isprovided with circular openings therethrough individual to the assemblyunits, each said opening having mounted therein a bushing II8 having itsinner walls tapered downwardly so that it serves as a funnel throughwhich the ring gaskets are dropped as they are being transferred to thecaps. Thus, as shown at the right in Fig. 11, a gasket B is droppingthrough the funnel II8 into a cap C therebeneath. The inner walls of thefunnel are formed with slots I20 spaced to receive the radial ribs I2Iformed on the spider I I5.

The shafts II3 are moved up and down under the control of acam I22 (Fig.11) secured by a bolt I23 at the upper end of the column 50. The cam isformed with an annular cam track I24 on which run cam follower rolls I25carried by the shafts H3. The cam track is designed to move each shaftII3 downward during its travel from the gasket receiving station to thetransfer disk 33. This downward movement causes the spider H5 toforcethe ring gasket downwardly into the cap therebeneath. Coil compressionsprings I26 are interposed between the spider and a collar I21 keyed tothe shaft I I3, thereby providing a yielding pressure of the spider andalso permitting an operation now to be described by which the rings aretemporarily secured within the caps.

Bolted to the lower end of the shaft H3 is a crimping die I28 formedwith radial arms I28 (Figs. 13 and 14) extending through slots in theannular spider II5. Each arm I28 is formed in its lower face with arecess I30 in position to receive an upper marginal portion of the capflange and the ring gasket therein and crimp or curl said margin of thecap inwardly at the point of contact and thereby grip the ring and holdit in position within the cap. The cap is thus secured at intervalsalong its periphery to the ring.

The mechanism for assembling the caps and rings also includes means forlifting the cap while the spider H5 is lowered. For this purpose, eachunit comprises a stem I3I below and in line with the shaft II3, saidstem having on its upper end a pad I32 in the form of a disk. During theassembling, the cap rests on the pad and is lifted thereby. The meansfor lifting the caps includes a cam track I33 on which run cam rolls I34on the lower ends of the stems I3I Coil compression springs I 35 holdthe cam rolls on the track. The carriage 5I in which the stems I3I aremounted is formed with recesses I36 to receive the pads I32.

During the assembling of the caps and rings by the assembly mechanism 3I, the caps are carried in their circular path of travel around the axisof the colume 53 by a carrier disk I3'I (Figs. 2 and 11) bolted to thecarriage and formed with pockets I38 for holding the caps. As shown inFig. 2, the disk I3! is in "overlapping relation to the transfer disks33 and 25. As the disks rotate the pockets I38 are brought into registerwith pockets I38 and I48 in the disks 26 and 33 to permit the transferof the caps from one disk to another. As stationary shield I39 (Fig. 1)extends along the periphery of the disk 33 in position to retain thecaps in the pockets I40 during the transfer from the assemblingmechanism 3I to the spinning mechanism 34. The caps are transferred inlike manner from the disk 26 to the carrier I31. From the transfer disk33 the caps are transferred to the control of the disk or carrier I4Imounted on the carriage 59 and which may be substantially like the diskI31.

As the caps are rotated with the carriage 59, the raw edges of the capflanges are spun over the upper edges of the ring gaskets as shown inFig. 17, for securely holding the gaskets in position.

Referring to Figs. 15 to 18, which illustrate the construction of thespinning heads "Iii, each head has mounted therein a collapsible andexpansible pad for holding the assembled cap and gasket during thespinning operation. pad comprises four arc-shaped jaws I42, each jawhaving an upwardly extending shank M3. The jaws swing radially on pivotsI44 by which they are mounted on a central hub I45, the shanks I43 beinghoused in recesses formed in the hub. Coil compression springs I46 swingthe jaws about their pivots to collapse the pad. The hub I45 is attachedto the lower end of a shaft I4I by means of a screw-threaded stud I48formed on the shaft, said shaft being mounted for verticalmovementrelative to the head flfi;

Each

im-a The shafts "69 ca ry-re me heads 70 are -rotatably mounted incarriers 4 50 secured to the carriage 59. The spinning heads "II! arerotated about their axes as l'1'eretofo're-described. Each spinning head--hasmounted therein an annula'r series ofsp'inning rolls 'I 5I{niounted on stud shafts I52. Each roll is for'rhedw-ith -'a poripheralgroove I 53 in position to receive the raw edge or the ca flange andshaped to -g1-a"dua-lly s'pin the said edge inwardly-into grippingenga'gement with ther-ing gasket as the spinning head rotates and thecap is gradually inoved upward. The cap during "the spinning operationissupported on apad 154 'on the upper end of a vertical stem 155 whichis "mounted for limited up-"a'nd-fdown movement relative to the carriage59. A cam fol-lower roll I56 onthe'stem' I55runs on a cam track 151shaped to l-ift-the'p'ad, during the spinning operation, from itslowered position to a lifted position shown' a't the right and leftrespectively inFig. 1'5. =='A'-c'oi1 compression'spring'I58 servestolowe'r'the pad I54. Rotation of the pad about its vertical axis isprevented by a screw threaded-pin 159, the inner end of which engages avertical slot in the stern E.

Referring to Figs. 15 to 17, the expansible pad and its shaft M 1, asbefore noted, are mounted forlimit'ed up and-down movement relative tothe spinning head 18. The shaft It? has a reduced stem Mi (Fig. 15)extending upwardly through the tub'u'larshaft 66 anda fhead i'd'lsecured to the upper end of the shaft fi9. A coil spring I l"! mountedon-s'aid stem, is held under compression between the head I' l"! and ashoulder on the shaft 'IGI, thereby yieldingly holding the expansiblepa'd'in its lowered position relative tothe spinning head. Such loweredposition is adjus't'ableby means of adjusting nut Mi Mounted in a-recessin the hub 145 of the expansible pad isa cap holder or clamping" blockIBI of cylindrical' form 'adapted'tocontact a cap C supported on the padI 54 as the latter is lifted, thereby gripping and hold-ing -theoapinposition during Fthe spinning operation. The holder Iti has-a limitedvertical-'ihoveinentwithin the hub IAE'and is held in itsloweredposition by a coil compression "spring I60.

As the pad I54 with a cap thereon is lifted'by its cam, the holder IIiIengages the cap just before the latter co'ntac'ts'the e'xpa'nsiblejawsIE2 and then holds the 'cap'while the "jaws are expanded or swungoutwardly by the upward pressure of the cap therea'gainst, thus swingingthe jaws to their expanded position (Fig. 17), in which recessedholding-surfaces I62 formed in the jaws engage thelower margin'of thering gasket, thus holding the latter in position-during the spinningoperation. After the spinning operation is completed and the pad I54moves downward, the shaft I47 and "eX'pansible pad carried thereby alsomove downward ashort distance under the pressure of'the coil spring I4!(Fig. 15), such movement being'arrested by the stop nut Mi Thep'adI54,asit continues its downward movement releases the jaws I62 which arethen collapsed by the expansion of the springs I 46, thus'releasing thecap. 'Atthe same time, the coil spring I60, forces'theholde'r IBIdownwardly relative to the jaws I42, thereby assisting in freeing thecap.

The, continued'rotation. of the cap .carrier I'4I after the spinningoperation'brings thefap to the discharging chutef36. 'A'stationarystiipper Thar I 65 (Figs; 19and21) "siveshs' a. positive"means for stripping hem the ja'ws F42,- any cap which may not haveb'e'en normally released before reaching the stripperb'ar. The'freeforward end 'of this bar is so positioned that any'cap stilladhered tothe expansi-ble jaws'passes underthe bar and is guided in -adowriv'vardl'y and forwardl'y inclined direction, thereby stripping thecap from the holding jaws. The'caps ar'e guided into-the downwardlyinclined chute 36 and are carried therethrough to the conveyor. 31.

'Safety mechanism is provided for automatically stopping the machina inthe event of the 'strip ping'mechanism failing to 'stripa cap or -if,-fo'r any vl cause, the machine is j'ammed by the caps on their .waythrough the chute. such "mechanism will =now' be described. 7

The stripper arm I65 is i'nteg-ral withor fh ed to the chute ii. A bar I66 also fixed to the chute- 3$ is mounted on aipivot I61 so that thechu'tefiis. connected 'to swing about said pivot. Aleaf spring 9165iap'plies tension to the arm I-66 tending toswing itiinwardlytoward'thespinhing mechanism. :Suchmovement is limited by a 'latch- H39. in theform'of ahook on one end of a horizontal arm Iii! connected at itsopposite end by apivot "Iii to a'stationaryzpost 112. A rock arm 113 ismounted to swing'abou't a pivot I'I4 and=carries a ciamIlE-whichengagesa roll I116 on thec'hute The ca'r'n -ish'eIdin its'operati-ve'iposit-ionby a coiled atension spring I I7 connected to the arm -I-'I3.

;'I'?h'e rockvarm I-whas upward pressureapplied theretog'by a springactuated device I18 (see Fig. 22) but is normallyheld againstupwardmovement by-the latch I 69. Whenthe free forward movement anddischargeotthecaps is interrupted in any way vaspfor example, by "a capsticking to the holding pad I42, an outward pressure is applied toth'earm I55 thereby swinging saidgarm and;the-;chute 36 ,about the pivot I61-A slight,;-movement releases the latch "I69 so'that;the arm Iiojisvreleased and swung'upward about its ;pivot -I"I I Thisoperates acontrol switch Iiis and thereby stops the machine 'as hereinafterdescribed. If a capyshould fail'to enter the chute 36 due to clogging ofthe-chute or some-rather cause, it is, brought into contact with afinger I8I-on therockarmIIS and thereby-swingsthe latter so that the camI15, bearing againsty-the roll I16, swings thechute' 36abo'utits-fulcrum I-E'I and thus releases the arm I10, thereby effecting theoperation of the switch I80.

Ihe safety mechanism just'described for stopping the machine isalsooperated whenmore than onering gasket is carried on one of the pins I 62of theconveyoril. The-meansbywhich such-operationisqeiiected will nowbe:described. having reference to :Figsg8 to 10. Directly over theringsupporting surfaces I82 of theangle bars i0 3 isval-pair of-plates"I83'- spaced above said surfaces-a sufiicient-distance to'allowthe'freepassageof therings, such spacingof the platesbeing-insufiicientto provide; clearance for two rings superposedon the -same'peg. Theplates I83= have end portions .IS i inclinedto. permitthefree-entranceaof-the rings B-therebeneath. Bearings I;85 are;attached to said inclined-end portions' by which the plates are mountedto-rock onipivots on :the conveyor .frame. A counterweight I81, carriedby rock arms I88 extending from the bearings .-I:85, counte rbalancesthe. plates I83. 'A micro-switchJ-BIL mounted on, -a-bar I9I on-theconveyor frame, comprises a contact lug 1 I92 which bearson a rockarm -Itpivoted at I-94and carrying at its"free.-end -aro11 I95 whichove'rliesones: the mass I33;

gang-094 As a ring B advances beneath the plates I83, it passes betweenstationary guiding rails I83 and is thereby elongated as shown by brokenlines in Fig. 8. If more than one ring is carried on a peg I02, theylift the plates I83 and thereby rock the arm I93 upwardly, thus liftingthe contact lug I92 and closing the micro-switch I90. This establishes acircuit for the solenoid of an electromagnet I96 (Figs. 20 and 22).The'magnet operates to swing a lever I91 mounted on a pivot pin I98 andprojecting upwardly into position to engage a lever I99 (Fig. 19) andswing the latter about a pivot 200. The lever I99 contacts a shoulder20I formed on the chute 36 so that said swinging of the lever moves thechute outwardly a short distance and thereby releases the latch I69.This effects the stoppage of the machine in the manner above referredto. v

If one of the ring carrying pins I02 is empty as shown at I02 (Figs. 5and 6), the forward movement of the caps C along the chute 25 ismomentarily arrested in timed relation to the movement of said pin'sothat one of the cap carrying pockets in the transfer disk 26'isleftempty, such pocket being the one to which a'ring would normally bedelivered from such pin. This prevents the spinning mechanism fromoperating on a cap in which there isno ring gasket and also prevents themachine from delivering caps without gaskets therein. The mechanism foreffecting such operation is as follows: I

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, a lever comprising a rock arm 202isfulcrumed on a pin 203 on a supporting plate 204, said arm extending'along one sided the slot I I, in the path of the oncoming ringsB. Anarm 2060f the leverextends rearwardly into position to contact a roll206 on a switch operating arm 201 of a micro-switch 208. Normally, thearm 202 is held a short distance away from the path of the pins I02 bythe rings B. The arm 202 is of sufficient length to be engaged by eachring before the preceding ring has passed out of engagement. If a ringis missing, the arm 202 is swung inwardly into contact with the emptypin I02 as shown in Fig. 6, under the influence of a compression coilspring 209 (Fig. thereby depressing a contact lug 2I0 and closing themicro-switch 208.

The closing of the switch 208 establishes a circuit for a relay coil 200(Fig. 22) which then operates a contact bar 208 and closes a circuit forthe solenoid of an electromagnet 2 (Figs. 4, 4A and 22). Theelectromagnet is mounted on a bracket 2I2 adjacent to the discharge endof the conveyor 25. The electromagnet core is connected to a lever 2I3pivoted at 2" to the bracket 2 I2 and carrying at its free end a stoprod or pin 2I5 positioned directly over the path of the caps C. The stoprod is normally held above the path of the caps by a coil spring 2 I6.When the micro-switch 208 (Figs. 5 and 6) is actuated, owing to theempty pin I02 the circuit is established for the electromagnet 2 whichthen operates to lower the stop pin 2I5 to the dotted line position(Fig. 4A) and thus momentarily arrest the flow of the caps to theassembly mechanism. While the movement of the caps is thus interrupted,the ring conveyor continues its forward movement so that the switchoperating arm 202 is again swung outwardly by the ring immediatelybehind the empty pin, thus opening the micro-switch 208 andtie-energizing the electromagnet 2II so that the stop pin 2I5 is lifteda p mits the flow of th a to be esume The operation of the variouselectrical control devices may be summarized as follows:

Referring to the wiring diagram (Fig. 22) the main motor 3.8 isconnected to receive its current'from the mains a, b, c, of a threephase system. The motor is started by depressing a push-button switch225 which completes a circuit through a coil 226 of the motor switch,thereby moving the contact bars 221 and 228 to closed position. Thecontact bar 228 completes a circuit for the motor, which is therebystarted. The contact bar 221 closes a by-pass across the push-buttonswitch and completes a holding circuit through the coil 226 formaintaining the motor circuit independently of the pushbutton switch.

Certain of the electrical control devices are actuated .by currentsupplied from a transformer having. its primary 23I connected across themains 229 and 230 of an alternating current circuit. The secondarywinding 232 of the transformer is connected in circuit with the relaycoil 208 said circuit, as before described, being normally held open atthe switch 298 by the rings B; When a ring is missing from one of thepins it permits closing of the switch 298, thereby energizing the coil208 which then closes its switch and thereby completes a circuit for theelectromagnet coil 2, said circuit being connected across the mains 229and 230. The electromagnet, being energized, operates to arrest the flowof the caps C as long as any empty pins are passing the switch arm 202.

The electromagnet coil I96 is connected in circuit across the mains 229and 230, said circuit including the switch I90 which is normally openbut is closed when two rings, carried on the same pin, pass beneath theswitch arm. This closing of the switch causes the electromagnet I96 torelease the latch I69 and permit the spring I18 to open the switch I80.This de-magnetizes the motor switch coil 226 so that the switch isopened and stops the motor. Closing of the switch I90 also serves tolight a lamp 233 connected in parallel with the electromagnet I96. Thelamp 233 may be, for example, a red signal lamp located at anyconvenient place and indicates to the operator where the trouble islocated. The switch 96 which is opened when the flow of caps C isinterrupted, is in the same circuit with the switch I and also serveswhen opened, to stop the machine. As before noted, the switch I80,which, when opened, stops the main motor, is under the control both ofthe ring carrying conveyor and the cap discharging mechanism.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of myinvention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for assembling flanged caps and liner rings, comprising acarriage rotatable about an axis, means for continuously rotating thecarriage, an annular series of assembling units mounted concentricallyof said axis for continuous rotation with the carriage, each said unitcomprising a plunger and an upwardly facing cap-supporting pad forsupporting a cap in inverted position, said plunger being mounted forvertical reciprocation over said pad, means for reciprocating theplunger and thereby forcing a ring into position within the cap, and acrimping die connected to said plunger and comprising spaced radial armsformed with crimping surfaces positioned and shaped to engage the capflange when the plunger is lowered and curl or man oes-- ed beneath-the,funnel, a plunger mounted over the-funnel for vertical reciprocation,saidlplun fir wheninits, upper position being spaced above thefunneltopermit av liner ring, to be'advaneed, hori zontally to aposition between the. said plunger: and funnel and to be released tothefunnel, means for lifting the, pad and simultaneously moving the plnngerdownward through the vfunnellanlithereby assembling the cap and linerring, said. funnel having vertical slots formed in, thertapened wall ,thereoft said. plunger having radially disp ed ribs. po itioned andarrangedto project/into) said'slots and move up and down therein as theplungenislifted and. lowereCL. and a crimpinadie; mounted forup-and-down movement with the, aid plun er. and'havin yi ldin connectiontherewith, said vdie having radial arms positioned atlintfirvalscircumferentially thereof, eachsaid armbeing formed'on its lowerfacewith a recess positioned and shaped to engage the cap flangeforcrimping the latter; and causing it to grip the liner ring.

Apparatus for assembli sen e-no liner ring compri i g a f nnel havingitsinnen wall downwardly tapered; a support; on which; the: funnelismountecl, acap-supportingpadmounted beneath the funnel, a plungermounted over the: tunnel for verticalqreciprocation, said plunger wheningits upperposition being spaced above the funnel tolpermita liner ringto be ad'vanoed 'horizontallytd a-position between the said plunger.and-funnel: an -released to, the funn L- means for lifl-tinathe pad:and. simultaneously moving; the plnngen downward through-momma.andthere+ by assem-blinewhe liner. fi e-Daniela can pno t d onwthelpadlthe wallsofisaid. funnel being formed with vertical i eways; said plungr having raiaLribs extending-into and-movable up anddown tne saidqsideways. and a crimpi die yielda ly connectedto the; plunger forup-and-down movement therewith-,,vsaid dieicomprising means for 1crinnping;. theoao fiangeand causing it to grin hesairl. liner ring.

JOHN BELADA;

REFERENCI'JSVv CITED,

'llhfi' fioliowing references are' of' recordin thefile of this: patent:

UNITEDIUSFTATES' PATENTS

